How To Have a Bed She'll Actually Love Sleeping In

Let’s get right to it: Your bed situation isn’t good. You might have a box spring on the floor, or polyester sheets. The last time you needed an extra pillow, you used a bag of laundry. When you hear the word “headboard” you think of karate.

You spend a third of your life in bed—maybe more if you’re talented or lucky. Take control of the situation, from the ground up. Here’s what to do.

The Bed

Your bed shouldn’t be any pile of rags you can pass out on. It should be an actual piece of furniture. To qualify as adult, this piece of furniture should have: Legs; slats that support a mattress directly (re: no box spring); and a headboard.

Is a headboard really a requirement? Yes, it is. While there are some great platform beds out there (like this one ($489, floyddetroit.com)​), a headboard signals to the world that you are someone who might one day sit up in bed and do a crossword. It also prevents visitors from falling into that linty area between the wall and the mattress when they were only trying to snuggle with you and make you watch The Bachelor.

You can snag a bed with a headboard pretty reasonably. We like this set from West Elm ($1,199, westelm.com) If you’re feeling really mature, go for a baseboard, too. But keep it low ($799, roomandboard.com) so you can sit on the end of the bed to put your shoes on.

Get a queen. It’s big enough for two adults, but it’s still cozy. It’s an easy size to buy sheets for, and the reasonable size can help make your apartment feel bigger than a crowded king would.

The Mattress

There are two ground rules: no waterbeds and no creaky springs. If you’re embarrassed by the thought of people seeing your current mattress on the curb on trash day, that means it’s definitely time to bite the bullet. Just leave it in front of your neighbor’s house.

You can go with easy, one-size-fits all delivery ($950, casper.com) or a handcrafted work of art (hastens.com). Or you can probably keep what you’ve got, ditch the box spring, and freshen it up with a mattress cover ($60, bedbathandbeyond.com). Want to feel like you’re in a hotel? Consider a back-cradling, sink-into-it, downy layer on top ($245, bloomingdales.com).

The Bedding

You need sheets, pillowcases, a duvet cover, and insert (or a great wool blanket). Ignore coverlets and shams. You don’t even need to know what those are. Shams are fussy. You are not.

Sheets

Unless you’re European, you need a top and bottom sheet. The bottom or “fitted” sheet is the one with elastic around its edges that makes it impossible to fold. Make sure it’s deep enough to accommodate your mattress. And while you’re reading the label, check thread count. Rule of thumb: cotton in the 400-thread count range will be strong and soft ($119, westelm.com).

As basic as it sounds, go for white. There’s nothing better than crisp white sheets. And bleach is your friend.

Pillowcases

A sheet set comes with two pillowcases. But you need four. Why don’t they give you four? It keeps me up at night. (Just kidding, I’m fast asleep in my adult bed.)

Duvet

What is a duvet anyway? We’re glad you asked. It’s a quilted down comforter that lies on your exhausted body like a warm cloud, and I’ve never met one I didn’t like. A duvet cover is the fabric envelope this thing goes in. Here’s a place for some personality and texture, like flannel or linen ($485, trnk-nyc.com).

Blanket

Wool is the blanket you didn’t know you wanted—especially if you want to look outdoorsy. Trade the duvet for a wool blanket made by a classic mill ($280,faribaultmill.com). You’ll be surprised how cozy but breathable these things are. (You know who’s not surprised? Sheep.) And when someone’s coming over, they dress up sharp with a hospital corner.

Pillows

Once you’ve picked your perfect pillows, there’s a strategic way to place them.

When you’re making the bed, fluff the pillows by patting them simultaneously on opposite edges—not punching them in the middle like an angry toddler. Arrange them in two stacks, with the open ends of the pillowcases inward. Finally, turn down your comforter or blanket rather than pulling it up over the pillows, which creates a lumpy, scary, what’s-under-there effect.

There you have it: Your adult bedroom. Reward yourself with pizza bagels and video games.

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